Monday had a couple of highlights. We always have great speakers and inspirational music the whole way through, but on Mondays, we have breakout sessions for the different branches of service for the guys…and all the spouses have a breakout session together. We had great talks on surviving deployment, rendering service to others during the challenges of deployment, and supporting our husbands’ ministries. I always come away with great ideas and a renewed sense of purpose.
Amy, Jen, Curtis and Cliff during a break
The session is followed by a lovely luncheon with a speaker from the general leadership of our Church. This year, it was our General Relief Society President, Sister Julie B. Beck. She was awesome. She finished with a Q & A session, and even though I didn’t have the courage to ask her my question (I knew I’d just bawl my way through it) in answering someone else’s question, she also answered mine. Afterward, she stayed to take pictures with us. She was so sweet and kind.
Here's the whole group of us...and some of our Navy Gals (trying to recruit some of our Army candidates...to no avail!)
This is me taking a picture for my blog of Felila taking a picture for her blog...got that?
Felila, Sister Beck and me. I came up to Sister Beck afterward and I said, "You probably don't remember me..." She said, "Of Course I do...you're Gerilyn's friend (her daughter used to be in my ward in San Diego) she told me to make sure to look for you." That made my day!
Someone had this great idea (it might have even been Sister Beck) to pose for a group picture. Some of the sisters had already headed back downstairs...but this is most of us.
During our last session of the day, Cliff received word that his dearest friend in the Marine Corps, Dave, was found dead in his apartment. Cliff’s command was contacted by the family and the command finally got a hold of him. We were shocked and devastated for his family. Dave's wife requested that Cliff perform the memorial service.
As we were leaving the auditorium after the session was over, we heard our names being called. It was my Uncle Ron and Aunt Mona. Uncle Ron is my Grandma Corenne’s little brother, and we hadn’t seen Ron and Mona in 11 years (since their youngest son’s wedding). They are serving a mission at the Church’s family history center and they thought we’d be in the Church office building, so they figured they’d try to find us (somewhere on the 26 floors). We were SO glad they did! I don’t have space enough here to explain about the tender feelings we have for these two. They helped a young, lost Sailor find her way back to the Gospel, 19 years ago. They mean so much to us, and given all that has been weighing us down lately, this was no coincidence. Talk about a tender mercy!
Cliff, Me, Ron and Mona...one more shot of Ron and Mona
During Chaplains’ Conference, Monday night means our annual
“Navy Family Night.”
We had our largest group ever this year (20), and decided we had to rename it
“Sea Services Family Night”
because one of our prospective Navy Chaplains is a Marine and Admiral (Ret.) Yost and his lovely wife, Jan, joined us as well; and he’s a former Commandant of the Coast Guard. We went to Buca di Beppo this year, and had the most entertaining waiter, ever.
We needed another table added as our numbers grew...
Instead we just mimed one.
We called it..."The Emperor's New Table."
He does a pretty mean Neil Diamond.
They don't normally let Chaplains handle money...so Steve and Curtis were really enjoying this opportunity!
Sgt. Adam and Mrs. Melissa Arellano (prospective chaplain)
We're so excited to have another Marine join our ranks!
Chaplain Todd and Mrs. Rani Fowler
Lt. Rick and Mrs. Amy Gabbitas (chaplain candidate)
Chaplain Mike and Mrs. Lonna Howard
Chaplain Steve and Mrs. Kay Lineback (retired)
Chaplain Curtis and Mrs. Cathy Schmidtlein
(The troublemaker who started it all...he married Cliff and I, 17 years ago...or rather he performed the ceremony...I can hear him correcting me!)
Chaplain Cliff and Mrs. Carrie Stuart
Chaplain Bob and Mrs. Lynette Vance
Chaplain Dan and Mrs. Jen Whitaker
Adm. Paul and Mrs. Jan Yost (retired)
Not Pictured:
Chaplain Justin Top dropped by briefly (but I didn't get his picture). He wasn't able to bring his wife, Mrs. Katherine Top, as they just barely moved and weren't settled. We look forward to meeting her next year. Ensign Greg and Mrs. Jan Trujillo (chaplain candidate) were at the conference, but couldn't join us for dinner. And we were terribly missing the Hardings. Chaplain Brandon Harding is deployed to Iraq again, and Mrs. Amy Harding is back in Hawaii caring for their 5 children. We pray for their strength and protection...and hope to see them next year.
We have such a special group. Some of us have known each other a long time…some of us are just getting acquainted…but we share a common bond, and between us we have some of the most fantastic senses of humor around!
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